Shoe tree



June 1930. s. D. LAYMAN 1,757,145

SHOE TREE Filed May 21, 1928 INVENTOR .STEPHEN u. LAYMAN ATTORN EY Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT )FF-l-CE STEPHEN D. LAYMAN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR ".10 CHARLES MILLER, 0] LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK I SHOE TREE Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to shoe trees for ladies shoes and slippers.

Various types of shoe trees have been proposed heretofore, but thesehave not proven to be entirely satisfactoryfor the following reason. These prior art devices consist essentially of atoe portion and a' heel or back portion, joined by a flexible rod, which is adapted to exerta forcelong'itudinally of the shoe, to force the-toe portion into place and to hold it there. In order "tokeep the cost of these devices comparatively low, only one size tree has been produced, and the variations in length of the various size shoes is taken care of by the extra length of the yieldable rod. It therefore follows that the pressure exerted betweenthe heel and toe portions varies widely for the various lengths of shoes in which the device is used. Also when used in the smaller size shoes the yieldable rod is bent upwardly with the result that it draws the vamp of the shoe outof its normal shape.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a shoetree which does not depend upon support from the heel portion of the shoe to exert the necessary tension upon the toe portion thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shoe tree which is equally e'fiicient in its operation when used in various size shoes.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a shoe tree in which the tension exerted upon the toe portion may be adjusted without regard to the length of the shoe.

A further object is to provide a shoe tree which holds a shoe in proper shape without stretching the same.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shoe tree which is cheap to construct, simple to manipulate, and which is highly eflicient in its operation.

And finally, it is an object of this invention generally to improve the structure of shoe trees now known.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken 1928. Serial No. 279,405.'

in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: i

Fig. 1 is perspective View of a device embodying the present invention. 7

Fig.2 is a top plan viewand Fig. 3 isa bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is aside elevational view, one side member i being cut away.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the shoe tree 10 is seen to comprise two side sections 11 and 12 shaped to the form of a shoe last and. adapted to hold a shoe :in its proper shape wheninserted therein. Amidsection or wedge 13 is disposed intermediate of the side sections. The wedgewis formed as shown with itsupper 'portion 13 extending. above the members 11 .and 12. A 'knob or handle 14 is carried by the upper edge of the wedge 13. The internal surfaces of the side sections 11 and 12 and: the cooperating surfaces of the Wedge are vuni planarwhereby to obtain the proper degree of adjustment :without unduly spreading iany. particular-portions of the side sections.

The followingv structure is provide'drto maintain the parts in properr association withznespect to'each other a V A bolt 15 :having the rhead*'1f5 is 'countersunk in the section =11, andpasses-thru a slot l6-cut in the wedge *member 13,..and froin' there into .the other side :section 12, where-it: is held by: head 15 which is. movable within a-slot 12 cut infithe section12, but fromiwhich slot itcannot be withdrawn. Plugs 11 -andi'12 maybe provided-in the members. 11 andfi12v respectively to: close the slots cut in said members to permit the bolt to be fixed iniplace as :shown. I his .bolt

'15 holds fithe side-sections and the-wedge member: in :associated relation. "Thezslot "16 out inthe v wedge Z313 p6rmltSfiTEl21t3lV8 movement ofithe sameawith' respectxto the side sections; i. I

:Referring:now:- in deta'il to FigsJQ and i, the :structure swhi'ch permits sliding .of the wedge but h'olds': the side sections from relative rotation will be adescribed. This .is seen-to comprisea first-pin or .plug'17- rigidly held by one side member suchas 12for-exemployed to close the recesses formed in their respective side sections, which recesses are cut during the process of inserting the pins 20 and 17 in place as shown.

In order to help hold the tree in place when it is inserted in a shoe, the plugs 25 which may be formed of felt, rubber, or other resilient materials, are provided. on the bottom of the sec ions 11 and 12. These plugs serve to increase the coeflicient of friction between the sock lining of the shoe and the bottom of the tree. Also, due to the resilient character ofthese plugs, .when compressed they exert a pressure substantially at right angles to the sole of the shoe, thus further retarding the movement of the tree rearwardly of. the shoe.

In the use of this device it is merely necessary to place the tree in a'shoe and to press the wedge forwardly until the shoe fits snugly over the tree. The tree will then remain in place until thewedge is withdrawn.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

l. 'A shoe tree, comprising two side sections shaped to the form of a shoe or slipper and having uni-planar surfaces, an intermediate wedge shaped section having unipla'nar surfaces slidably disposed with respect to said side sections, means to hold said wedge in association with said sections and to prevent their separation, means to guide said wedge section in its sliding move ment, and means to grip said wedge section, said last mentioned means extending rearwardly and upwardly of said slide sections.

2. A shoe tree comprising two side sections shaped to the form of a shoe or slipper and having uni-planar surfaces, an intermediate wedge shaped member having uni-planar surfaces slidably held between said sections, means holding said side sections together in adjustable spaced relation with respect to each other and to prevent their separation, and means carried by said wedge shaped member for pushing and pulling the same.

3. A shoe tree comprising two side sections shaped to the form of a shoe or slipper and having uni-planar surfaces, an intermediate wedge shaped member having uni-planar surfaces slidably held between said sections, means holding said side sections together in spaced adjustable relation with respect to each other and to prevent their separation, means carried by one of said sections to sections, and means to hold said sections and said wedge member in association and to prevent their separation.

5. A shoe tree comprising a pair of side sections shaped to conform to the toe portion of a shoe or slipper and having uni-planar surfaces, a wedge member having uni-planar surfaces slidably mounted between said section,.said wedge member having ;a portion extending rearwardly and upwardly of said sections, a knob mounted on said last mentioned portion, whereby the wedge may be manually pushed or pulled with respect to said sections, and meansto hold said sections and said wedge member in association and to prevent their separation.

6. A shoe tree, comprising two side sec-V tions, joined together in variably spaced relation and having uni-planar internal surfaces, a wedge member having uni-planar surfaces slidably disposed between said side sections, said wedge member having a slot inclined upwardly from front to rear, and means passing through said slot and between said side sections for holding said wedge member and side sections in assembled relation and for guiding the movement of said wedge,- member.

STEPHEN D. LAYMAN. 

